Table 1
Overview of Social Representations of Career Planning.
| EXCERPT* | EMPIRICAL SUBTHEME | ORGANISING PRINCIPLE | SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF CAREER PLANNING |
|---|---|---|---|
| I feel that the field reflects my values and interests (S706). The job suits my personality (S8). I am in a field that is not suitable for me (D42). Feeling unsuited (I28). | Correspondence | Fit | Matching |
| I’m in a field I love (S111). The field I study is my passion (S765). I feel that I am studying for a calling (S256). | Passion and calling | ||
| It feels like my own thing (S59). Because I feel ‘at home’ (S247). Wondering if the field is right for me (I10). Not my thing anymore (D130). | Ownership | ||
| I will have the qualification, which will increase the career opportunities in my field (S7). When I graduate, I will receive a clear professional title of a social worker (S166). | Acquisition of a qualification | Employability | Securing employment |
| I know that I will get a job with my degree in the future (S153). You will surely get a job with this (S777). | Assurance of obtaining a job | ||
| I believe it is a field of the future, and it can be combined with many jobs (S699). It’s a field that inspires, empowers, is important and is staffed by wonderful and kind people (S328). | Appeal of the field | Openness | Embracing the field |
| [---] Career plans are not locked --> there are more options (S704). Versatile career prospects, not just a teacher (S598). I get really versatile opportunities in working life to work in different positions (S633). | Versatile opportunities | ||
| A burning interest in the subject (S264). My own motivation, interest and passion for the field of education (S639). The topic is really interesting; it doesn’t matter if you have a job or not – it has been meaningful to me to study this’ (S801). At the beginning of the second year, I’ve started to feel that I’m not really interested in the studies I’m doing in my major (D43). | Meaning-orientation | Personal meaning | Self-realisation |
| The courses are interesting. I feel that I am developing and suitably challenging myself (S659). It has opened enormous new perspectives (S592). Every day is interesting, and I want to learn more all the time (S769). | Developing oneself | ||
| The choice opens up more possibilities for me and closes off less than the other options I considered (S49). This was the only possible option (I143). Difficult to choose between two options (I74). | Valuing options | Planning | Strategising |
| I know my goals, and my choice of education supports me in achieving them (S327). An interesting field that helps you achieve your career dreams and goals in the future (S561). | Setting goals | ||
| Uncertainty about being capable enough in a professional role (I59). Unpleasant to think about the future (I28). I am really unsure about the future (S506). Transition to career in research with working class background causes uncertainty (I38). | Overall uncertainty | Security | Coping with uncertainty |
[i] *Note: The excerpts with designations that contain the capital letter ‘S’ comprise statements from satisfied students, those with a ‘D’ comprise dissatisfied students and those with an ‘I’ comprise indecisive students.